Warsaw has described the drone incursions overnight into Wednesday as a "provocation" and an attempt by Russia to test NATO’s readiness.
“It’s reckless and unacceptable. We can’t have Russian drones entering allied airspace,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in Brussels as he announced the new effort.
The mission will bring together air and ground assets across the alliance, with Denmark, France, Britain and Germany among the countries pledging forces.
More allies are expected to join, Rutte said.
NATO’s top military commander, US Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, pledged that the alliance would "defend every inch" of its territory.
"Poland and citizens from across the alliance should be assured by our rapid response earlier this week and our significant announcement here today," Grynkewich told a news conference at NATO headquarters.
The drone incursions, which Warsaw labelled an “act of aggression,” triggered NATO consultations under Article 4, which allows allies to convene when a member’s security or territorial integrity is threatened.
The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to meet later on Friday at Poland’s request to discuss the incident.
Poland has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the incident could have been a mistake.
Trump told broadcaster Fox News on Friday that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin was "sort of running out and running out fast," but stopped short of threatening new sanctions over the war in Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.
Germany, meanwhile, said it had extended air policing over Poland and summoned the Russian ambassador, according to Reuters.
Russia said it had no intention of hitting targets inside Poland during an airstrike on Ukraine.
Earlier this year, NATO launched the Baltic Sentry effort to enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea and improve allies’ ability to respond to destabilising acts by Russia in the region.
The move followed a series of acts of sabotage that damaged energy and communication cables linking NATO members in the Baltic Sea region, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters